Town hall to be held regarding Talihina Veterans Center

Concerned citizens will rally together at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in Talihina to discuss the continued possibility of the closure of the Talihina Veterans Center.

The event is being hosted by the Talihina Chamber of Commerce inside the Choctaw Nation Community Center at 201 Dallas St., Talihina.

"The Veterans Center is very important to the livelihood of the citizens in LeFlore, Latimer, Pittsburgh, McCutain and Pushmataha counties as well as the veterans it serves," said Chamber Director Vera Nelson.

Nelson mentioned bills filed in the House by Rep. Tommy Hardin and Senate bills authored by Sen. Frank Simpson on this year's agenda which mention the closure or relocation of the center.

"Some of these bills are duplicates, so if they do not pass in one place they have a chance to pass in the other place," Nelson said.

Save the Talihina Veterans Center Committee Chairman Jerry Pearce said the committee has written support of the Choctaw Nation and from governor candidate W.A. Drew Edmondson for the center. Area senators Joseph Silk, Mark Allen and Larry Boggs and Rep. Rick West recently mentioned their support for the center during a Legislative Breakfast in Poteau last month.

"We also need the support of the state representatives and senators to ensure that these bills do not pass. Please make every effort to attend this meeting and get updated on what has occurred in the past year," Nelson said.